The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-07-09

Department at Washington City and through
them to tho Congress Of the United States.
Resolved that Major Heuer in making his re-
port to the Chief Department at Washington Ci-
ty be respectfully requested to make it as favo-
r;,ble to the improvement of the Teche as repre-
sented by the report of Capt. King to this Body.
Resolved further that our senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress be also requested to give
this matter their early attention and exert them
selves in favor of securing the appropriation ne
cessary for the work.
On motion of Mr.. Duchamp, secouded by Mr..
Patin, put to a vote and carried the Resolution
adopted at the Meeting OF October 4th 1886, rela-
tive to witnesses in Criminal matters be and is
hereby repealed.
1t being one o'clock in the afternoon a recess
was taken until 2li o'clock p. IN.
At 2Il o'clock p. m. the meeting was called to
order. There being no regular business to trans
act, the Police Jury was now constituted as re-
ouired by law, as Board of Reviewers and pro-
ceeded at once to revise and equalze the lists of
assessments for the year 1887. The Assessor was
called on to furnish the same and the work was
proceeded with until 6 o'clock p. m. at which
time the Board adjourned to tomorrow the 9th.
inst at s1a o'clock n, m. having revised the let
| ters A. b. G. of the jth ward.
A True copy from the Minutes.
| Aug Maraist, Clerk p. ].
| Report of Capt E. T. King made this day in
open session Of the Police Jury Of the Perish of
St. Martin, accepted and approved.
| Hon. Police Jury, Parish of st Martin.
GentIemen:-Having been appointed by you to
ascertain the commerce of your Parish and espe-
cially Of the Bayou Teche. beg leave to submit
my report.
To enable me to perform the duty required Of
me it was necessary for me to vi sit all portions
of your parish. See the people personally an6
get all the information possible, 80 that would
not only be able to give you the commerce o.
1886 but also that OF 1887.
This have done and given you as reliable
report as was possible for me to make. hav'
given the names and what each one has mad
ginned or shipped. Then have consolidated th'
whole so that you can see the amount OF eacl
commodity and the price have put on it anC
Judge for yourselves as to its correctness.
find that the commerce of the Parish for tn,
year 1885. amounts to 81, $50, 9,90. The export
to S9O9O44,lO and the imports, to s950, ,955, 80
For the year 1887 / find that the commerce viii
amount to $2,6s6, ,lO2.9 SO judging from percentag
of increase in acreage and condition of crop.
All of this commerce is either directly or indi
rectly interested in the navigation of tn
Bayou Teche and of its improvement. Cal
say for the people residing on that portion abov
st. Martinsville to Breaux Bridge, Arnaudvill
and Port Barre that it is a matter of vital impor
tance to them.
|, They have only two small steamboats, runnin
in the trade. l am informed by the owners an
captains of the boats that the steamer Dantol
makes two trips week in high water, this yea
for about two months the balance Of the yea
when there is water enough to get to Breau,
Bridge one trip per week. When there is nc
she makes occasional trips as high she ca
get up and then has to discharge her cargo an
ship in small fiat boats. The steamer Alic
makes fifteen or twenty trips year during hig
water. The steamer Durio makes some four Q
five trips year for cotton seed for the Iberia D
, Mill. &c.
The charges for freight is one half Of what
charged by the Round Boats to the City of Ne
Orleans. which is ss1S per cent less than tn
Railroad charges. Notwithstanding this muc
the greater portion Of the freight goes by Ii
Railroad for the want of facilities to ship by Ii
2 River.
{ These are the facilities the people have to g
t their produce to market. Above Breaux Bridt
to Arnaudville and to Port Barre thay have q
8 navigation the greater portion Of the year,
: consequence of which, they haze to haul the
: produce considerable distances to either Po
y Barre or Grand Coteau Station on the Morga
Railroad. This too when they have beautif
Q Bayou at their very doors, which can be mac
4 navigable at their doors at a small expense,
o In addition to the commerce / have give
There is am informed by Messrs. Bergeron al
4 Roger Bros. nineteen cotton gins between A